San Diego in Summer

San Diego by Summer: June, July, August

Summer is San Diego's busiest tourist season. Lots of conventions are in town; families are on vacation and lots of Arizonans flee their state's blistering summer temperatures for the more temperate Pacific coast.

Reasons to Avoid San Diego in Summer

Cost: Summer is the most expensive time to visit San Diego.

Crowds: If lots of people getting...MORE in your way makes you cranky, summer may not be the best time for your San Diego vacation. To enjoy the warm weather with fewer companions, go in early September instead.

Summer Events Worth Planning Ahead For

Del Mar Racetrack: It's far from what you might expect, an inexpensive way to spend an afternoon and admission includes some great evening concerts. Use the Del Mar Visitor Guide to find out why it's so much fun.

Baseball: The San Diego Padres play in a lively, fun downtown stadium and what's more American than a baseball game?

Festival of Sail: Held every three years in late August or early September, it brings a fleet of tall ships to join the ones docked at the local Maritime Museum.

Grunion Runs: The annual grunion run happens all summer when there's a full or new moon. That's when thousands of tiny, silvery fish mate on the beach and it's a sight like no other. See the schedule. La Jolla Shores is a good place to see it, or Birch Aquarium offers guided trips.

What to Expect in San Diego in Summer

The graphic above covers the basics about San Diego in Summer, with temperature, rainfall and sunshine averages and hotel occupancy information for recent years. A few additional facts and tips:

Summer brings long days and balmy nights, with theme parks and animal attractions offering a full range of fun entertainment and lots of time to enjoy it in.

Water temperatures are at their warmest in summer, peaking a little below 70°F (21°C) in mid-August, but only a little cooler in July.

Averages are interesting, but the most important thing is what's going to happen during your trip. Check the current forecast to get a better idea.

Average hotel occupancy is highest in the summer. Nightly rates will be highest when they're near capacity, and it may be hard to find a good discount rate.

Comic-Con is San Diego's biggest convention by far, bringing more than 100,000 people to the city in July. Hotel rates go up, and it's probably best to plan your trip at a different time to avoid...MORE the crowds. Check this year's Comic-Con dates.